Kamen was born in New York City, the second of four sons. His father Saul Kamen was a dentist, and his mother, Harriet, was a teacher. While attending the The High School of Music & Art in New York City, Michael Kamen met and became friends with Martin Fulterman (later known as Mark Snow, who composed the theme music for The X-Files among other projects). While studying the oboe, he formed a rock classical fusion band called New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, together with classmates Fulterman and Dorian Rudnytsky. The group performed their music while dressed in tuxedos. In the middle of the concert, Fulterman and Kamen would play an oboe duet. The group backed up friend and classmate Janis Ian in a concert at Alice Tully Hall in late 1967. After graduating high school, Kamen attended The Juilliard School, also in New York City.
Kamen's early work centered on ballets, thirteen in all, then expanding into Hollywood by writing the score for The Next Man in 1976, then into pop and rock arranging, collaborating with Pink Floyd on their album, The Wall.
Kamen became a highly-sought arranger in the realms of pop and rock music. His contemporaries in this field included Academy Award winner Anne Dudley, Richard Niles, and Nick Ingman. His successes include his work with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and Roger Waters (he is one of the few people to have been invited to work with both former Pink Floyd members, after their acrimonious split), as well as Queen (orchestration on Who Wants To Live Forever), Eric Clapton (on Edge of Darkness), Roger Daltrey, Aerosmith (live orchestral version of Dream On for MTV), Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Eurythmics, Queensrÿche, Rush, Metallica (on their live album, S&M), Def Leppard, Herbie Hancock, The Cranberries, Bryan Adams, Jim Croce, Coldplay, Sting, and Kate Bush. For Bush, Kamen delivered an orchestral backing for "Moments of Pleasure" from The Red Shoes album, substantially building upon a simple piano theme Bush had composed. In this instance, and many others, he conducted the orchestra personally for the recording. In 1984, Kamen had similarly heightened the impact of a pop recording for the Eurythmics "Here Comes the Rain Again", that score relying as much on his compositional skills as his arranging talents. Five years later, he did the music for For Queen and Country.
In 1990, Kamen joined many other guests for Roger Waters' performance of The Wall in Berlin and headed the National Philharmonic Orchestra during the 24 Nights sessions with Eric Clapton the following year.
Lenny Kravitz recorded a cover of "Fields of Joy" on his 1991 CD Mama Said that Michael co-wrote with Hal Fredricks.
In 2002, he was part of the Concert for George as string conductor.
Kamen had a very successful partnership with Bryan Adams and R.J. Lange composing scores and songs. The ballad "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" for the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves would be the number one song of that year, worldwide. Other songs would be "All For Love" for the movie "The Three Musketeers" in 1993, and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" the song from the film "Don Juan DeMarco" in 1995.
Kamen wrote eleven ballets, a saxophone concerto and an electric guitar concerto (with Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei as a soloist). Additionally, he wrote a commissioned work, "Quintet," for the Canadian Brass. He also provided scores for the films such as Back to Gaya, The Dead Zone (film), For Queen and Country, Polyester, Brazil, Someone To Watch Over Me, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Three Musketeers, Highlander, X-Men, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Licence to Kill, the Lethal Weapon series, the first three films of the Die Hard series, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Iron Giant, Splitting Heirs, Frequency, and many others. To this day the overture from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is used by Morgan Creek Productions for its logo, while New Line's corresponding theme is the opening segment of a track from Highlander. He also scored both the From the Earth to the Moon and Band of Brothers series on HBO. The trailer for the 2008 Disney/Pixar release WALL-E featured Kamen's 'Central Services / The Office' from his Brazil 1985 OST.
In television, Kamen composed music for two series of The Manageress produced by Glenn Wilhide at Zed Productions for Channel 4, but perhaps his best known work was on the 1985 BBC Television serial Edge of Darkness, on which he collaborated with Eric Clapton to write the score. The pair were awarded with a British Academy Television Award for Best Original Television Music for their work and performed the main movie theme with the National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall of London in 1990 and 1991. In 1994, Kamen conducted an orchestration of The Who's music for Roger Daltrey's 50th birthday concert series entitled Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who which was subsequently released on CD and DVD. He also worked with heavy metal band Metallica, on a two day concert that was held in Berkeley, California, with the San Francisco Symphony. A recording of the concert, titled S&M, debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, won a Grammy for the "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" in 2000 and went multi-platinum in 2001.
Kamen was nominated for two Academy Awards and won three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, two Ivor Novello Awards, an Annie Award and an Emmy.
His involvement with Mr. Holland's Opus, a film about a frustrated composer who finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher, led Kamen to create The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation in 1996. The foundation supports music education through the donation of new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved school and community music programs and individual students in the United States. In 2005 the foundation created an emergency fund for schools and students affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In 1999, Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony constructed and performed a concert with thrash metal band Metallica. This concert was released as a live album on DVD, VHS and CD, under the title S&M (an acronym for "Symphony and Metallica" but also wordplay on the abbreviation for sadomasochism). In 2001 and 2002, Kamen performed with David Gilmour at Gilmour's semi-unplugged shows at the Royal Festival Hall, playing piano and cor anglais. The 2001 concert and highlights from 2002 were released as a DVD as David Gilmour in Concert.
In 2002, Kamen, along with Julian Lloyd Webber, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Sir James Galway launched the Music Education Consortium in the UK. The consortium's efforts led to the injection of £332 million for music education in the UK. He was also commissioned to write a piece for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Kamen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. He died in London from a heart attack in 2003, at the age of 55. His last recorded work appeared on Bryan Adams's album Room Service where he played the oboe and wrote the orchestration to "I Was Only Dreamin'". Kamen had also completed the charts for accompaniment to two songs on Kate Bush's album Aerial, which was released in April 2005. Some of Bush's fans, pleased by Kamen's scoring of "Moments of Pleasure" from Bush's 1993 album The Red Shoes, expressed gratitude when it became known that the work had been finished.[citation needed]
In 2004, when Annie Lennox accepted the Academy Award for Best Original Song (her composition "Into the West" from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), she dedicated her achievement to the memory of Kamen.
The 2004 movies First Daughter and Boo, Zino & the Snurks|Back To Gaya, which he was working on at the time of his death, were dedicated to his memory.
David Gilmour's 2006 album On an Island was dedicated in his and longtime Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke's memories.
Michael Kamen is survived by his wife, Sandra Keenan-Kamen, and by his daughters, Sasha and Zoe.
It's Probably Me
Michael Kamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you hug yourself on the cold cold ground
You wake the morning in a stranger's coat
No one would you see
You ask yourself, who'd watch for me
My only friend, who could it be
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
When your belly's empty and the hunger's so real
And you're too proud to beg and too dumb to steal
You search the city for your only friend
No one would you see
You ask yourself, who could it be
A solitary voice to speak out and set me free
I hate to say it
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
You're not the easiest person I ever got to know
And it's hard for us both to let our feelings show
Some would say I should let you go your way
You'll only make me cry
If there's one guy, just one guy
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
When the world's gone crazy and it makes no sense
There's only one voice that comes to your defense
The jury's out and your eyes search the room
And one friendly face is all you need to see
If there's one guy, just one guy
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
I hate to say it
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
The song "It's Probably Me" by Michael Kamen speaks about a person's search for comfort, friendship, and loyalty. The lyrics talk about different scenarios where one can feel alone and abandoned, such as sleeping on the cold ground wrapped in a stranger's coat, feeling hungry and not having anyone to turn to, and when everything seems chaotic and unfathomable. The artist questions the identity of a person who can be relied on, who can be referred to as a friend, or who would risk their life for the other.
The song emphasizes the difficulty of expressing emotions, making connections, and building trust. It implies that having someone who understands and stands by you in difficult situations is rare and precious. The artist recognizes the value of this person in their life, who, despite all their flaws and differences, is someone who would always choose to be there for them. The lyrics convey the conflicting emotions of feeling ashamed of the burden placed on this person while also being grateful for their presence in their life.
Overall, the song speaks about universal experiences of searching for love and companionship, valuing loyalty and trust in relationships, and recognizing the importance of having someone who has our back in life's ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
If the night turned cold and the stars looked down
When you're alone and feeling down
And you hug yourself on the cold cold ground
Feeling lost and helpless
You wake the morning in a stranger's coat
Feeling disconnected and unsure
No one would you see
No one around to help or comfort
You ask yourself, who'd watch for me
Wondering who cares or would look out for you
My only friend, who could it be
Seeking connection and companionship
It's hard to say it
Difficult to admit
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
Admitting that you may be the only one to rely on
When your belly's empty and the hunger's so real
Experiencing extreme and urgent need
And you're too proud to beg and too dumb to steal
Feeling ashamed and helpless
You search the city for your only friend
Looking for someone to turn to
A solitary voice to speak out and set me free
Desiring guidance and support
You're not the easiest person I ever got to know
Admitting difficulty in understanding
And it's hard for us both to let our feelings show
Struggling to open up and communicate
Some would say I should let you go your way
Suggesting that it may be best to part ways
You'll only make me cry
The thought of losing you is painful
If there's one guy, just one guy
If there's someone willing to be there for you
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
Who would make the ultimate sacrifice
When the world's gone crazy and it makes no sense
Feeling overwhelmed by chaos and confusion
There's only one voice that comes to your defense
Finding solace in the support of one person
The jury's out and your eyes search the room
Awaiting judgment and seeking out support
And one friendly face is all you need to see
Finding comfort in the sight of a caring person
I hate to say it
Reluctant to admit
I hate to say it, but it's probably me
Acknowledging that you may be the only one to rely on
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eric Patrick Clapton, Michael Arnold Kamen, Gordon Matthew Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
virginiwoolf
both gentlemen are incredible musicians
💙They have a special place in my heart
If the night turned cold
And the stars looked down
And you hug yourself
On the cold, cold ground
You wake the morning
In a stranger's coat
No one would you see
Ask yourself, 'Who'd watch for me?
'My only friend, who could it be?'
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me
Shweta Bhrigu
If the night turned cold
And the stars looked down
And you hug yourself
On the cold, cold ground
You wake the morning
In a stranger's coat
No one would you see
Ask yourself, 'Who'd watch for me?
'My only friend, who could it be?'
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me
When your belly's empty
And the hunger's so real
And you're too proud to beg
And too dumb to steal
You search the city
For your only friend
No-one would you see
You ask yourself, 'Who could it be?
'A solitary voice to speak out and set me free'
I hate to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me
You're not the easiest person that I ever got to know
And it's hard for us both to let our feelings show
Some would say
I should let you go your way
You'll only make me cry
But if there's one guy, just one guy
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me
When the world's gone crazy, and it makes no sense
And there's only one voice that comes to your defence
And the jury's out
And your eyes search the room
One friendly face is all you need to see
And if there's one guy, just one guy
Who'd lay down his life for you and die
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me
I hate to say it
I hate to say
But it's probably me
I hate to say it
I hate to say
But it's probably me
I hate to say it
I hate to say
But it's probably me
NovejSpeed3
Currently doing a Lethal Weapon marathon. As many times as I've seen them all, this was the first time I realized how refreshing this intro is compared to the others used for the other three movies. #3 isn't my favorite Lethal Weapon. However, because of this song its intro is definitely my favorite of the four!
Stephen Bottom
It's almost like the opening to a Bond film.
DL Lambert
Lethal Weapon 4 starts with a older rarely heard Van Halen song. It's a track off a album with a VH lead singer after David Lee Roth but prior to Sammy Haggar. 🎤
Ayn Downey
You are on point, this is not my favorite of The Lethal Weapon series, but this song is so beautiful and Perfectly Elegant. This artist is amazing and I have followed him for years, Check out Sting singing They Dance Alone absolutely beautiful he does this song in Spanish/ English Language and it is truly sensitive, and very poingant especially regarding how humanity treats women!
Latoya Collins
YES i'm doing the same thing and when it came on I was like OH YES I remember loving this
NovejSpeed3
@Ayn Downey its actually Sting and Eric Clapton!
Кирилл Шишканов
A legendary theme! What a beautiful song!
Arnold Sherrill
This song describes every true, real friendship not the ones based on subscribers or likes. The kind of friendship where someone calls you out of the blue at 2 in the morning and asked one simple question how are you doing?
Ima Ortigosa
Feeling that comment, man.
virginiwoolf
both gentlemen are incredible musicians
💙They have a special place in my heart
If the night turned cold
And the stars looked down
And you hug yourself
On the cold, cold ground
You wake the morning
In a stranger's coat
No one would you see
Ask yourself, 'Who'd watch for me?
'My only friend, who could it be?'
It's hard to say it
I hate to say it
But it's probably me